WHITBY -- Whitby Wildcats William Ward got a handle on the puck during minor midget AAA hockey action against the Huron Perth Lakers, in the Silver Stick hockey tournament at Iroquois Park November 23. November 23, 2012

WHITBY -- In a tournament full of Ontario Hockey League prospects, it was a surname quite familiar to that league that emerged as the minor midget division's most valuable player at the annual Whitby Silver Stick hockey tournament.

Dylan Strome, brother to current OHL scoring leader Ryan Strome, copped the top honours, leading the Toronto Marlboros AAA team to a 5-1 win over Detroit Compuware in Sunday's championship game at Iroquois Park Sports Centre.

The minor midget division, one of six being contested at the Gloria Rints memorial tournament, attracts hockey scouts from all over the province and well beyond, as the players are in their draft-eligible year for junior hockey.

And while most of the players are born in 1997, there were a few born in 1998 as well, including Detroit defenceman Sean Day, who's said to be considering applying for the same exceptional status that landed John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad and most recently Connor McDavid into the OHL a year early.

It's very early in the process, however, as Whitby's Barclay Branch pointed out last Friday, as he was on hand to scout the talent in his role as assistant general manager and director of player personnel for the Belleville Bulls.

"It's still a little early for any sort of ratings or lists, but this is a tournament for each OHL team that helps to define their own individual lists a little bit more," explained Branch. "It's the first real tournament of the year where you watch a lot of best-on-best hockey.

"Usually every year this is the tournament where you start to see guys separating themselves," he continued. "In most people's opinion, this is probably the best tournament of the year next to the OHL Cup."

Detroit Compuware entered the tournament as the top-ranked team, and lived up to that billing by reeling off six straight wins and out-scoring the competition 22-7 in the process.

However, the perennially strong Marlies, who were ranked seventh before the tournament, peaked at the right time as they often do, and won the championship game handily, defending their title from last year.

In addition to Strome, Mitchell Stephens is another Marlies forward who played well and is considered a top prospect for the 2013 OHL draft.

When pressed for names, Branch pointed to Elgin Middlesex forward Travis Konecny as the player most would give the early nod to as the top 1997-born prospect, and also mentioned Blake Speers of the Sault Ste. Marie Thunder.

"There's a lot of really good players out there. This draft class there looks to be some real good depth," he said. "You could probably go right along the list. I don't think there's a team here that doesn't have a top talent player."

That list of teams certainly includes the host Whitby Wildcats, who are coached by Branch's father, David, the commissioner of the OHL.

Big centre Hayden McCool, who moved from Clarington to Whitby to be part of the team, and defenceman Justin Lemcke are considered the top Whitby prospects, but it was diminutive winger Will Scott who stood out during Friday's 3-1 win over the Huron Perth Lakers, scoring twice and assisting on the other.

"He plays at a high speed better than most. He's got that ability," said David Branch, who isn't overly concerned about Scott's small stature. "The game has changed so much, the emphasis is on speed and skill."

It was a tough weekend to swallow for the host team, who went undefeated with two wins and a two ties, but failed to be among the eight who advanced to the quarter-finals.

As defending OMHA bantam champions, the Whitby team will host that tournament at the minor midget level toward the end of this season.

The Wildcats will also be looking for a better outcome at the OHL Cup, where the scouts will again be out in full force March 12-17 at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga.